inverse


Also found in: Thesaurus, Medical, Legal, Encyclopedia, Wikipedia.

in·verse

 (ĭn-vûrs′, ĭn′vûrs′)
adj.
1. Reversed in order, nature, or effect.
2. Mathematics Of or relating to an inverse or an inverse function.
3. Archaic Turned upside down; inverted.
n. (ĭn′vûrs′, ĭn-vûrs′)
1. Something that is opposite, as in sequence or character; the reverse.
2. Mathematics One of a pair of elements in a set whose result under the operation of the set is the identity element, especially:
a. The reciprocal of a designated quantity. Also called multiplicative inverse.
b. The negative of a designated quantity. Also called additive inverse.

[Middle English, from Latin inversus, past participle of invertere, to invert; see invert.]

in·verse′ly adv.
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

inverse

(ɪnˈvɜːs; ˈɪnvɜːs)
adj
1. opposite or contrary in effect, sequence, direction, etc
2. (Mathematics) maths
a. (of a relationship) containing two variables such that an increase in one results in a decrease in the other: the volume of a gas is in inverse ratio to its pressure.
b. (of an element) operating on a specified member of a set to produce the identity of the set: the additive inverse element of x is –x, the multiplicative inverse element of x is 1/x
3. (usually prenominal) upside-down; inverted: in an inverse position.
n
4. (Mathematics) maths
a. another name for reciprocal7
b. an inverse element
5. (Logic) logic a categorial proposition derived from another by changing both the proposition and its subject from affirmative to negative, or vice versa, as all immortals are angels from no mortals are angels
[C17: from Latin inversus, from invertere to invert]
inˈversely adv
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014

in•verse

(ɪnˈvɜrs, ˈɪn vɜrs)

adj.
1. reversed in position, order, direction, or tendency.
2. (of a proportion) containing terms of which an increase in one results in a decrease in another.
3. inverted; turned upside down.
n.
4. an inverted state or condition.
5. something that is inverse; the direct opposite.
[1605–15; < Latin inversus, past participle of invertere; see invert]
in•verse′ly, adv.
Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.

in·verse

(ĭn-vûrs′)
Adjective
Relating to a mathematical operation whose nature or effect is the opposite of another operation. For example, addition and subtraction are inverse operations, as are multiplication and division.
Noun (ĭn′vûrs′)
1. An inverse operation. Subtraction is the inverse of addition.
2. Either of two numbers or quantities that cancel each other out under a given mathematical operation. For example, the inverse of 5 under multiplication is 1/5 , since 5 × 1/5 = 1. The inverse of 5 under addition is -5, since 5 + -5 = 0.
The American Heritage® Student Science Dictionary, Second Edition. Copyright © 2014 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:
Noun1.inverse - something inverted in sequence or character or effectinverse - something inverted in sequence or character or effect; "when the direct approach failed he tried the inverse"
additive inverse - (mathematics) one of a pair of numbers whose sum is zero; the additive inverse of -5 is +5
multiplicative inverse, reciprocal - (mathematics) one of a pair of numbers whose product is 1: the reciprocal of 2/3 is 3/2; the multiplicative inverse of 7 is 1/7
oppositeness, opposition - the relation between opposed entities
Adj.1.inverse - reversed (turned backward) in order or nature or effect
backward - directed or facing toward the back or rear; "a backward view"
2.inverse - opposite in nature or effect or relation to another quantity ; "a term is in inverse proportion to another term if it increases (or decreases) as the other decreases (or increases)"
math, mathematics, maths - a science (or group of related sciences) dealing with the logic of quantity and shape and arrangement
direct - similar in nature or effect or relation to another quantity; "a term is in direct proportion to another term if it increases (or decreases) as the other increases (or decreases)"
Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.

inverse

adjective
1. opposite, reverse, reversed, contrary, inverted, converse, transposed The tension grew in inverse proportion to the distance from their destination.
2. reverse, opposite, reversed, inverted, transposed The hologram can be flipped to show the inverse image.
noun
1. converse, opposite, reverse, contrary, contradiction, antithesis There is no sign that you bothered to consider the inverse of your logic.
Collins Thesaurus of the English Language – Complete and Unabridged 2nd Edition. 2002 © HarperCollins Publishers 1995, 2002
Translations
käänteinenkäänteisarvokäänteislausetoimenpide

inverse

[ˈɪnˈvɜːs]
A. ADJinverso
B. N the inverselo inverso, lo contrario
Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005

inverse

[ˌɪnˈvɜːrs]
adj [relationship, proportion] → inversement proportionnel(le)
There seems to be an inverse relationship between audience size and audience response → Il semble y avoir une relation inversement proportionnelle entre la taille et la réponse de l'audience.
to vary in inverse proportion to sth → être inversement proportionnel à qch
The amount of time spent on my work varies in inverse proportion to the amount I get done → La quantité de temps que je passe à travailler est inversement proportionnelle à la quantité de travail que j'accomplis.
ninverse m
Collins English/French Electronic Resource. © HarperCollins Publishers 2005

inverse

adjumgekehrt, entgegengesetzt; in inverse orderin umgekehrter Reihenfolge
nGegenteil nt
Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007

inverse

[ˈɪnˈvɜːs]
1. adjinverso/a
in inverse proportion (to) → inversamente proporzionale (a)
to be in inverse proportion → essere inversamente proporzionale
2. ninverso, contrario
Collins Italian Dictionary 1st Edition © HarperCollins Publishers 1995

inverse

a. inverso-a, invertido-a.
English-Spanish Medical Dictionary © Farlex 2012
References in classic literature ?
Customs have been handed down by ages of repetition, but the punishment for ignoring a custom is a matter for individual treatment by a jury of the culprit's peers, and I may say that justice seldom misses fire, but seems rather to rule in inverse ratio to the ascendency of law.
Thoughts of home grew stronger the nearer he approached it- far stronger, as though this feeling of his was subject to the law by which the force of attraction is in inverse proportion to the square of the distance.
In proportion as we recede from the earth the action of gravitation diminishes in the inverse ratio of the square of the distance; that is to say, at three times a given distance the action is nine times less.
I could understand the reason for this, as with the narrowing expanse of Omean as the waters rose toward the apex of its dome, the rapidity of its rise would increase in inverse ratio to the ever-lessening space to be filled.
The significance of Critical-Utopian Socialism and Communism bears an inverse relation to historical development.
We had in deed "struck," to use a sea expression, but in an inverse sense, and at a thousand feet deep.
If they want to lie by a little, or to refresh the crew, they come to Pirial along the coast; from Pirial they find another inverse current, which carries them to the Isle-Dumal, two leagues and a half."
By an inverse motion the base was approaching first; the lunar attraction was prevailing over the terrestrial; the fall toward the moon was beginning, almost imperceptibly as yet, but by degrees the attractive force would become stronger, the fall would be more decided, the projectile, drawn by its base, would turn its cone to the earth, and fall with ever-increasing speed on to the surface of the Selenite continent; their destination would then be attained.
Yet time and space are but inverse measures of the force of the soul.
The peculiar freedom of Mahtoree's religious creed has been more than once intimated, and by a singular species of contradiction, he appeared to have lavished his attentions on this emblem of a supernatural agency, in a degree that was precisely inverse to his faith.
Now you clearly see the sequence of events, though you see them, of course, in the inverse order to the way in which they presented themselves to me.
Urquhart, "Computation of generalized inverse matrices which satisfy specified conditions," SIAM Review, vol.